Jeoffrey

As someone who had a close relationship with alcohol from eighteen to thirty (and my liver now pays the price) and started binge-watching anime during that time, I, of course, watched the original Bartender adaptation from 2006. I remember its charming atmosphere, filled with philosophical musings about life, fascinating drink facts, and a cast of genuinely interesting and relatable characters. It was the kind of show that you either completely buy into and enjoy the ride or find silly and not your cup of tea. I was fortunate to be in the former group, even getting the impression that having a few drinks at a bar could be a great experience! Coincidentally, around the same time I was watching Bartender, my favorite pub tried opening a cocktail bar. It felt like one of those serendipitous moments from the show, or perhaps fate, hinting at an unforgettable evening with a charming bartender. It ended up with me having a massive hangover because one of the first rules any bartender should tell you is that mixing different types of drinks is a bad idea — something my dad warned me about when I was seventeen. Despite that, it was a memorable experience, and I have fond memories of the anime — it was great; I was just a fool. Now, much wiser and mostly sober for the past three years, I was curious to see if I could tune into the same vibe with this new remake. Even though I swapped shots for a glass of juice while watching each episode, I thoroughly enjoyed it. This Bartender has its charm, offering a mix of deep, philosophical moments, pleasant interactions, and a generally soothing atmosphere. You learn interesting tidbits, the characters are delightful, and it's fun to reconnect with them after all these years. This adaptation turned out pretty well; the drink preparations were beautifully animated, and each bar had its own personality, as did the bartenders. It was a nice way to end the day, like a comforting nightcap before bed. It won’t drive me back to drinking, as I've moved on, but it did make me thirsty. Any significant drawbacks? While the cocktail preparation animation was top-notch, the final episode revealed that the team struggles with animating smooth body movements, like our bartender throwing a ball — not as fluid as the drink shaking. 7.5/10

Not gonna lie, after the Megumin spin-off, I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy Konosuba as much anymore. The biggest issue I had with the spin-off was that it just didn’t seem all that funny. What if Konosuba isn’t as hilarious as I remember? What if I don’t laugh every episode like in the previous seasons? But it only took one episode to put all my fears to rest! Konosuba is back, and Kazuma and the gang are in top form. Their chemistry is still fantastic, the show keeps surprising me, and most importantly — it’s incredibly funny! I laughed in every single episode. The creators expertly mix humor with dramatic moments, making the main characters genuinely cool at times before gracefully flipping back to comedy. It’s exactly the Konosuba you expect and love. Plus, the ending song is insanely catchy. It’s a simple "country tune" sung by the main heroines (much like the ending of season two, which I still listen to), but its simplicity is its strength. Once you hear it, it gets stuck in your head, and you start looking forward to it every episode. The ending also features a delightful short story about the main characters adopting a tadpole, which, predictably, doesn’t go as planned. It’s perfect! Animation-wise, this season looks great. Studio Drive did a fantastic job, especially with the magical effects during the beloved “Explosion!” scenes. As for the story, I enjoyed the first arc with Kazuma “reforming” a spoiled princess (or was it the other way around?) a bit more than the second arc focusing on Darkness, but both had plenty of legendary moments that I won’t forget anytime soon... In the end, I got exactly what I wanted. I’m thoroughly satisfied and had an amazing time. For me, Konosuba still deserves 5 stars. 8.9/10

I'd say director Yuichi Abe (who also served as the action director) either really loves this novel (or maybe just the maid Sylpha) or was just determined to impress. The dynamic, breathtaking, and beautifully choreographed action sequences featuring the maid/swordswoman were incredible. The training scene with Lloyd was jaw-dropping, and episode ten, with the camera circling Sylpha gracefully before a stunningly edited fight scene, was so good I had to watch it a few times. The magical battles were epic too, especially the showdown between Lloyd and the transformed Jade. The visual effects were impressive. It wasn't just the fights that grabbed me; the main character, Lloyd, was intriguing in his own way. Is he mentally unstable? Maybe, but more like someone obsessively in love with magic to the point of self-harm. But he wasn't annoyingly flawed; in fact, in crucial moments, I found him quite likable. His quirky personality felt refreshing. The story was engaging, and I didn’t mind Lloyd turning the first defeated demon into his satanic Paimon. Certain parts of the plot struck the right emotional chords, especially the final arc with the "assassin guild" which worked for me in its serious aspect. What didn’t work for me was the humor — often childish and sometimes downright silly with the chibi animations. It rarely made me laugh and disrupted the overall tone of the show. Another issue is the weird fanservice around Lloyd. Considering he's 10 years old, the maid's unhealthy obsession with him was uncomfortable. One last positive note: despite Lloyd being absurdly overpowered, the final battle made me worry for him at times, thanks to the well-crafted "final boss." Overall, I'd give it a 6.4/10.